Integrated cellular and ad hoc relaying systems: iCAR

Integrated cellular and ad hoc relaying systems (iCAR) is a new wireless system architecture based on the integration of cellular and modern ad hoc relaying technologies. It addresses the congestion problem due to unbalanced traffic in a cellular system and provides interoperability for heterogeneous networks. The iCAR system can efficiently balance traffic loads between cells by using ad hoc relaying stations (ARS) to relay traffic from one cell to another dynamically. This not only increases the system's capacity cost effectively, but also reduces the transmission power for mobile hosts and extends system coverage. We compare the performance of the iCAR system with conventional cellular systems in terms of the call blocking/dropping probability, throughput, and signaling overhead via analysis and simulation. Our results show that with a limited number of ARSs and some increase in the signaling overhead (as well as hardware complexity), the call blocking/dropping probability in a congested cell and the overall system can be reduced     

Modeling iCAR via Multi-Dimensional Markov Chains

iCAR is a new wireless system architecture based on the integration of cellular and modern ad hoc relaying technologies. It addresses the congestion problem due to limited channel access in a cellular system and provides interoperability for heterogeneous networks. The iCAR system can efficiently balance traffic loads and share channel resource between cells by using ad hoc relaying stations (ARS) to relay traffic from one cell to another dynamically. Analyzing the performance of iCAR is nontrivial as the classic Erlang-B formula no longer applies when relaying is used. In this paper, we build multi-dimensional Markov chains to analyze the performance of the iCAR system in terms of the call blocking probability. In particular, we develop an approximate model as well as an accurate model. While it can be time-consuming and tedious to obtain the solutions of the accurate model, the approximate model yields analytical results that are close to the simulation results we obtained previously. Our results show that with a limited number of ARSs, the call blocking probability in a congested cell as well as the overall system can be reduced.     

Reducing multicast traffic load for cellular networks using ad hoc networks

There has been recent extensive research on integrating cellular networks and ad hoc networks to overcome the limitations of cellular networks. Although several schemes have been proposed to use such hybrid networks to improve the performance of individual multicast groups, they do not address quality of service (QoS) issues when multiple groups are present. This paper, on the other hand, considers an interesting scenario of hybrid networks when an ad hoc network cannot accommodate all the groups and a base station has to select a subset of groups to optimize its bandwidth savings and maximize the utilization of the ad hoc network while providing QoS support for multicast users. In this paper, a network model for multicast admission control that takes wireless interference into account is developed, the group selection problem is formulated as a multidimensional knapsack problem, and an integer linear programming (ILP) formulation and a polynomial-time dynamic algorithm are proposed. A distributed implementation of the dynamic algorithm in real systems is also examined. Simulation studies demonstrate that the dynamic algorithm is able to achieve very competitive performance under various conditions, in comparison with the optimal solution computed by the ILP approach.     

混合网络研究

自组织网和蜂窝网是移动通信系统的重要组成部分,融合两者的混合网络将可能成为未来移动通信系统的重要组成形式之一.文章介绍了混合网络的研究现状,分析了各网络模型的特性,并对混合网络中的关键技术问题,如框架结构、通信模式选择、信道分配、路由、计费、负载均衡,进行了探讨.文章认为混合网络通过其灵活的网络组建能力,不仅提高了对传统业务的支持,同时也为引入新服务创造了条件.自组织网络和蜂窝网络的融合将为构造下一代移动通信系统奠定基础.     

Spectrum Sharing between Cellular and Mobile Ad Hoc Networks: Transmission-Capacity Trade-Off

Spectrum sharing between wireless networks improves the efficiency of spectrum usage, and thereby alleviates spectrum scarcity due to growing demands for wireless broadband access. To improve the usual underutilization of the cellular uplink spectrum, this paper addresses spectrum sharing between a cellular uplink and a mobile ad hoc networks. These networks access either all frequency subchannels or their disjoint subsets, called spectrum underlay and spectrum overlay, respectively. Given these spectrum sharing methods, the capacity trade-off between the coexisting networks is analyzed based on the transmission capacity of a network with Poisson distributed transmitters. This metric is defined as the maximum density of transmitters subject to an outage constraint for a given signal-to-interference ratio (SIR). Using tools from stochastic geometry, the transmissioncapacity trade-off between the coexisting networks is analyzed, where both spectrum overlay and underlay as well as successive interference cancelation (SIC) are considered. In particular, for small target outage probability, the transmission capacities of the coexisting networks are proved to satisfy a linear equation, whose coefficients depend on the spectrum sharing method and whether SIC is applied. This linear equation shows that spectrum overlay is more efficient than spectrum underlay. Furthermore, this result also provides insight into the effects of network parameters on transmission capacities, including link diversity gains, transmission distances, and the base station density. In particular, SIC is shown to increase the transmission capacities of both coexisting networks by a linear factor, which depends on the interference-power threshold for qualifying canceled interferers.     

A flow-based network monitoring framework for wireless mesh networks

As an extension of wireless ad hoc and sensor networks, wireless mesh networks recently were developed as a key solution to provide high-quality multimedia services and applications, such as voice, data, and video, over wireless personal area networks, wireless local area networks, and wireless metropolitan area networks. A WMN has a hybrid network infrastructure with a backbone and an access network and usually is operated in both ad hoc and infrastructure modes with self-configuration and self-organization capabilities. In this article, we review security challenges, attacks, and countermeasures in the physical, medium access control (MAC), and network layers of wireless mesh backbone and access networks. We then extend the concept of traffic flow from IP networks and define meshflow in wireless mesh networks. Based on this new concept, we propose a comprehensive framework to realize network monitoring, user and router profiling, application and service balancing, and security protection in wireless mesh backbone networks. Practical issues and design trade-offs for implementing the proposed framework in real systems also are discussed.     

Mobile ad hoc relaying for upward vertical handoff in hybrid WLAN/cellular systems

One of the main issues in hybrid wireless networks is vertical handoff. Dropping probability is one of the important parameters that must be considered in planning the wireless communication systems. However, there has not been much effort in dropping rate reduction in loosely coupled hybrid wireless networks. In loosely coupled WLAN/cellular systems the system administrator of the WLAN is different from the cellular one. Therefore, in these situations, reducing the dropping probability based on classical methods such as using reserved guard channels is difficult. A handoff from a WLAN to a cellular system occurs when a multi-mode device moves out of the WLANs coverage area. This is an upward vertical handoff in a hybrid network. In this paper, we propose to employ ad hoc relaying during the upward vertical handoff in a hybrid WLAN/cellular system. Two-hop and multi-hop relaying approaches, which we propose in this paper, improve the dropping probability regardless of the number of reserved channels. Simulation results support the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Also, practical routing protocols are proposed in order to implement the suggested relaying methods.     

Capacity regions for wireless ad hoc networks

We define and study capacity regions for wireless ad hoc networks with an arbitrary number of nodes and topology. These regions describe the set of achievable rate combinations between all source-destination pairs in the network under various transmission strategies, such as variable-rate transmission, single-hop or multihop routing, power control, and successive interference cancellation (SIC). Multihop cellular networks and networks with energy constraints are studied as special cases. With slight modifications, the developed formulation can handle node mobility and time-varying flat-fading channels. Numerical results indicate that multihop routing, the ability for concurrent transmissions, and SIC significantly increase the capacity of ad hoc and multihop cellular networks. On the other hand, gains from power control are significant only when variable-rate transmission is not used. Also, time-varying flat-fading and node mobility actually improve the capacity. Finally, multihop routing greatly improves the performance of energy-constraint networks.     

A routing protocol based on interference-aware and channel-load in multi-radio multi-channel ad hoc networks

Improving capacity and reducing delay are the most challenging topics in wireless ad hoc networks. Nodes that equip multiple radios working on different channels simultaneously permit effective utility of frequency spectrum and can also reduce interference. In this paper, after analyzing several current protocols in Multi-Radio Multi-Channel (MR-MC) ad hoc networks, a new multichannel routing metric called Integrative Route Metric (IRM) is designed. It takes channel load, interflow, and intra-flow interference into consideration. In addition, an MR-MC routing protocol based on Interference-Aware and Channel-Load (MR-IACL) is also presented. The MR-IACL can assign channels and routings for nodes according to channel load and interference degree of links, and optimize channel distribution dynamically to satisfy the features of topology changing and traffic frequent fluctuation during network running. The simulation results show that the new protocol outperforms others in terms of network throughput, end-to-end delay, routing overhead, and network lifetime.     

On using peer-to-peer communication in cellular wireless data networks

A recent class of approaches for enhancing the performance of cellular wireless data networks has focused on improving the underlying network model. It has been shown that using the peer-to-peer network model, a mode of communication typically seen in ad hoc wireless networks, can result in performance improvements such as increased data rate, reduced transmission power, better load balancing, and enhanced network coverage. However, the true impact of adopting the peer-to-peer network model in such an environment is yet to be fully understood. In this paper, we investigate the performance benefits and drawbacks of using the peer-to-peer network model for Internet access in cellular wireless data networks. We find that, although the peer-to-peer network model has significantly better spatial reuse characteristics, the improved spatial reuse does not translate into better throughput performance. Instead, we observe that using the peer-to-peer network model as-is might actually degrade the throughput performance of the network. We identify and discuss the reasons behind these observations. Using the insights gained through the performance evaluations, we then propose two categories of approaches to improve the performance of the peer-to-peer network model: approaches that leverage assistance from the base station and approaches that leverage the relaying capability of multihomed hosts. Through simulation results, we show that using the peer-to-peer network model in cellular wireless data networks is a promising approach when the network model is complemented with appropriate mechanisms.     

A unified spectrum sensing and throughput analysis model in cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is a newly developed technology for increasing spectral efficiency in wireless communication systems. In the CR networks, there exist two traditional spectrum‐sharing technologies called spectrum overlay and spectrum underlay. A new hybrid overlay/underlay paradigm has also been discussed in the literature. In this work, we create a unified spectrum sensing and throughput analysis model, which is suitable for overlay, underlay, and hybrid overlay/underlay paradigms in the CR networks. In the proposed model, the energy detection scheme is employed for the spectrum sensing in the network in which the co‐channel interference is present among primary users and secondary users (SUs). The SUs' throughput in the proposed CR system model is then analyzed. The simulations are also carried out for demonstrating the performance of overlay, underlay, and hybrid overlay/underlay paradigms. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dual-hop decode-and-forward relaying systems with relay selection and maximal-ratio schemes

The end-to-end performance of dual-hop transmissions with decode-and-forward relaying over independent non-identically distributed Nakagami-m fading channels is investigated. In the analysis, partial relay selection is employed. This recently proposed selection scheme finds applicability in different wireless systems such as ad hoc and sensor networks. Closed-form expressions for the outage probability and average symbol error rates are provided. Furthermore, the overall system performance is illustrated through representative numerical results.     

On-demand routing and channel assignment in multi-channel mobile ad hoc networks

The capacity of mobile ad hoc networks is constrained by the intra-flow interference introduced by adjacent nodes on the same path, and inter-flow interference generated by nodes from neighboring paths. By assigning orthogonal channels to neighboring nodes, one can minimize both types of interferences and allow concurrent transmissions within the neighborhood, thus improving the throughput and delay performance of the ad hoc network. In this paper, we present three novel distributed channel assignment protocols for multi-channel mobile ad hoc networks. The proposed protocols combine channel assignment with distributed on-demand routing, and only assign channels to active nodes. They are shown to require fewer channels and exhibit lower communication, computation, and storage complexity, compared with existing approaches. Through simulation studies, we show that the proposed protocols can effectively increase throughput and reduce delay, as compared to several existing schemes, thus providing an effective solution to the low capacity problem in multi-hop wireless networks.     

Load balanced routing protocols for ad hoc mobile wireless networks - [Topics in ad hoc and sensor networks]

Mobile ad hoc networks are collections of mobile nodes that can dynamically form temporary networks without the need for pre-existing network infrastructure or centralized administration. These nodes can be arbitrarily located and can move freely at any given time. Hence, the network topology can change rapidly and unpredictably. Because wireless link capacities are usually limited, congestion is possible in MANETs. Hence, balancing the load in a MANET is important since nodes with high loads will deplete their batteries quickly, thereby increasing the probability of disconnecting or partitioning the network. This article discusses the various load metrics and summarizes the principles behind several existing load balanced ad hoc routing protocols. Finally, a qualitative comparison of the various load metrics and load balanced routing protocols is presented.     

基于干扰图的无线自组织网络MAC协议

由于IEEE802．11MAC协议采用了简单的干扰模型，因此产生了隐藏终端和暴露终端这两个严重影响无线自组织网络性能的问题。文章提出了一种新的基于干扰图（Conflict Graph）的MAC协议——CG-MAC来提高无线自组织网络的吞吐量。通过仿真实验，该协议能够同时解决隐藏终端和暴露终端问题．很大程度地提高了网络性能。     

Improving handoff performance by utilizing ad hoc links in multi-hop cellular systems

Handoff performance is a critical issue for mobile users in wireless cellular networks, such as GSM networks, 3G networks, and next generation networks (NGNs). When ad hoc mode is introduced to cellular networks, multi-hop handoffs become inevitable, which brings in new challenging issues to network designers, such as how to reduce the call dropping rate, how to simplify the multi-hop handoff processes, and how to take more advantage of ad hoc mode for better resource management, and most of these issues have not been well addressed as yet. In this paper, we will address some of the issues and propose a scheme, Ad-hoc-Network–Embedded handoff Assisting Scheme (ANHOA), which utilizes the self-organizing feature of ad hoc networks to facilitate handoffs in cellular networks and provide an auxiliary way for mobile users to handoff across different cells. Moreover, we also propose a scheme enabling each BS to find the feasible minimum reservation for handoff calls based on the knowledge of adjacent cells’ traffic information. Due to the use of multi-hop connections, our scheme can apparently alleviate the reservation requirement and lower the call blocking rate while retaining higher spectrum efficiency. We further provide a framework for information exchange among adjacent cells, which can dynamically balance the load among cells. Through this study, we demonstrate how we can utilize ad hoc mode in cellular systems to significantly improve the handoff performance.     

Cellular CDMA capacity with out-of-band multihop relaying

In this paper, we consider the capacity of cellular code division multiple access (CDMA) when there is out-of-band ad hoc traffic relaying. The mobile stations (MSs) are dual-mode, having both ad hoc and cellular CDMA radios. An active MS is free to choose any available relay station (RS) within its ad hoc radio coverage area for dual-hop communication with the CDMA base station (BS). Communications between the RSs and the MSs use bandwidth which is available to the ad hoc radio and does not consume the CDMA capacity. Using this mechanism, CDIVIA interference can be reduced by dynamically selecting RSs which have more favorable CDMA link characteristics. Several relay station selection criteria are considered, namely, ad hoc relaying with low relative interference (ARRI), with best link gain (ARLG), and with shortest distance (ARSD). The relay station selection protocols are compatible with existing wireless local area network (WLAN) standards such as IEEE 802.11. An analytic model is used to compute the effects on uplink and downlink CDMA capacities when out-of-band relaying is added. The results show that very significant capacity improvements are possible by using these criteria compared with conventional CDMA with hard or soft handoff. Ad hoc relaying which dynamically tracks CDMA link quality can achieve greater capacity improvements than that using a distance-based relay station selection. Relaying, which considers both signal and interference conditions, achieves better capacity than that based on signal link quality alone.     

Hand-Off Performance of the Integrated Cellular and Ad Hoc Relaying (iCAR) System

In this paper, we study the hand-off performance of a wireless system with heterogeneous technologies called iCAR (Integrated Cellular and Ad hoc Relaying). In iCAR, hand-offs can occur not only from a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) to another BTS, but also from a BTS to a so-called Ad hoc Relaying Station (ARS) in the form of relaying, as well as from an ARS back to a BTS. The latter two types of hand-offs effectively increase the hand-off buffer time and thus reduce the call dropping probability. We develop an analytical model for the hand-off performance in iCAR. In addition, we verify the analytical model via simulations and quantify the hand-off performance benefits of the iCAR system over conventional cellular systems. It is anticipated that the analytical and simulation models reported in this paper will serve as a guideline to other researches on the inter-system hand-off involving heterogenous wireless technologies.     

Virtual Private Ad Hoc Networking

The fact that a lot of applications require secure communication to take place only between a dynamic subset of distributed devices sharing a common context, is, from a network point of view, very challenging and demanding. Existing technologies such as VPN, P2P overlays or VLANs can only partially respond to these requirements. This observation is the key factor that has driven the proposal of the virtual private ad hoc network concept. Virtual private ad hoc networks (VPAN) are secure and self-organizing overlay networks on top of existing IP infrastructure that use ad hoc networking techniques to enable network connectivity. The underlying IP infrastructure can be the Internet, cellular networks, ad hoc networks, mesh networks … or combinations thereof. A virtual private ad hoc overlay network creates a transparent, shielded and trusted environment for the applications and services running on the participants' devices. The overlay uses internal addressing and ad hoc routing, thereby forming a virtual network on top of the physical infrastructure. In addition, the overlay must be self-organizing and self-maintaining upon member mobility or membership changes. This paper gives an overview of the potential applications, a high-level network architecture and the network challenges emerging from the novel concept of virtual private ad hoc networking. Jeroen Hoebeke was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1979. In 2002 he received the Masters degree in engineering (Computer Science) from the University of Ghent. In August 2002, he joined the Broadband Communications Networks Group. His PhD research includes the development of adaptive routing protocol techniques for mobile ad hoc networks. His main research interests are in ad hoc wireless communications and, more generally, in broadband wireless communications. Within the European MAGNET project, he is actively involved in the development of a network architecture and demonstrator for Personal Networks, with a prime focus on routing and connectivity. Gerry Holderbeke was born in Zottegem, Belgium in 1982. He graduated in Informatics at the University of Ghent in 2004. In August 2004 he joined the Broadband Communications Networks Group where he is currently working as a project developer. His research currently includes the development of an emulator for mobile ad hoc networks. His main research interests are in ad hoc networks and broadband wireless communications and involve routing, addressing and more generally, communication within mobile ad hoc networks and infrastructured networks. Within the European MAGNET project, he is actively involved in the development of a network architecture for Personal Networks, with a prime focus on the implementation of the routing architecture. Ingrid Moerman was born in Gent, Belgium in 1965. She received the degree in Electro-technical Engineering and the Ph.D degree from the Ghent University, Gent, Belgium in 1987 and 1992, respectively. Since 1987, she has been with the Interuniversity Micro-Electronics Centre (IMEC) at the Department of Information Technology (INTEC) of the Ghent University, where she conducted research in the field of optoelectronics. In 1997, she became a permanent member of the Research Staff at IMEC. Since 2000 she is part-time professor at the Ghent University. Since 2001 she has switched her research domain to broadband communication networks. She is currently involved in the research and education on broadband mobile & wireless communication networks and on multimedia over IP. The main research topics related to mobile & wireless communication networks are: wireless access to vehicles (high bandwidth & driving speed), adaptive QoS routing in wireless ad hoc networks, body area networks, protocol boosting on wireless links, design of fixed access/metro part, traffic engineering and QoS support in the wireless access network. Ingrid Moerman is author or co-author of more than 300 publications in the field of optoelectronics and communication networks. Bart Dhoedt received a degree in Engineering from the Ghent University in 1990. In September 1990, he joined the Department of Information Technology of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Ghent. His research, addressing the use of micro-optics to realize parallel free space optical interconnects, resulted in a PhD degree in 1995. After a 2 year post-doc in opto-electronics, he became professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Information Technology. Since then, he is responsible for several courses on algorithms, programming and software development. His research interests are software engineering and mobile & wireless communications. Bart Dhoedt is author or co-author of approximately 70 papers published in international journals or in the proceedings of international conferences. His current research addresses software technologies for communication networks, peer-to-peer networks, mobile networks and active networks. Piet Demeester received the Masters degree in Electro-technical engineering and the Ph.D degree from the Ghent University, Gent, Belgium in 1984 and 1988, respectively. In 1992 he started a new research activity on broadband communication networks resulting in the IBCN-group (INTEC Broadband communications network research group). Since 1993 he became professor at the Ghent University where he is responsible for the research and education on communication networks. The research activities cover various communication networks (IP, ATM, SDH, WDM, access, active, mobile), including network planning, network and service management, telecom software, internetworking, network protocols for QoS support, etc. Piet Demeester is author of more than 300 publications in the area of network design, optimization and management. He is member of the editorial board of several international journals and has been member of several technical program committees (ECOC, OFC, DRCN, ICCCN, IZS, &).     

无人机自组网技术研究

在无人机系统中,编组和协同作战能力对提高无人机作站效能和生存能力具有重要意义。无线自组网是一种特殊结构的无线通信网络,其通信依靠节点之间的相互协作,以无线多跳方式完成,因此网络不依赖于任何固定设施,具有自组织和自管理的特性,这种特殊的组网方式使得无线自组网非常适用于无人机系统。介绍了无线自组网的原理,分析了无线自组网应用于无人机系统主要面临的关键技术:路由技术和安全问题。介绍了无线自组网的发展情况和在无人机领域的研究情况。